ISSUE 18: YOUTH
It hardly seems like a generalization to say that the experiences we have with music in our early years inform so much of who we are and become, what we value, and how we interact with music later in life. Whether that’s hearing an incredible song for the first
It hardly seems like a generalization to say that the experiences we have with music in our early years inform so much of who we are and become, what we value, and how we interact with music later in life. Whether that’s hearing an incredible song for the first time on the radio or via a playlist, the care and attention of a music instructor as we navigate a new instrument, or the access we are granted to a music scene, all these things have such a weight to them in our teens and twenties, and the New Feeling editorial working group really wanted to spotlight that with this issue.
Beyond formative experiences, it’s undeniable that popular music cultures revolve around and even fixate on youth — as in cohorts of young people, but also as in the state of being young itself. In some ways this fixation feels only logical, because from hardcore punk to hip hop, youth organize, motivate, and sustain so much of music culture in the west.
Soundtrack To My Youth: How Spirit of the West’s Folk-Rock Sound Impacted My Ideas About Art and Identity
Sarah Chodos
For Sarah Chodos, Spirit of the West started as a band with an infamous drinking song, one which influenced her own relationship to alcohol and what was expected of her culturally as a young, white teen in the ‘90s. But as she grew, so did her relationship to the band. Her enjoyment of their music went beyond the superficial pub anthem to realizing the project had much more depth to its songwriting and stylistic choices. Spirit of the West became a band that was instrumental to her own personal growth into adulthood.
Popular culture’s fixation on the young often solidifies narratives around success that don’t account or make room for people who arrive at songwriting later in life. That was certainly the case for Edmonton-based Cree musician Phyllis Sinclair, whose breakthrough album, Ghost Bones, came 15 years after the release of her debut. Laura Stanley spoke with the folk artist about the influence that the ‘70s folk scene had on her as a teen, her new album Kiyam, and being at a point in her own artistry where her sense of purpose is stronger than ever.
Breaking from the theme for a moment, we’re back with another Group Chat, with Alexia Bréard-Anderson (in her New Feeling debut), Tom Beedham, Sarah Chodos, Michael Rancic, and Daniel G. Wilson discussing new cuts from ESCOBUTT and Artifiseer.
We cap the issue off with a look to the future, as Rosie Long Decter profiles Montreal’s long-standing Rock Camp: a week-long program for girls, non-binary, and gender-non-conforming youth between ages 10 and 17. The camp prioritizes giving campers both the skills and space to be themselves in a climate where elected officials are stoking the flames of a culture war to score political points and eroding the rights of queer and trans people, further subjecting them to harm, stigmatization, and marginalization.
Even outside of music, it’s not hard to see the power and influence young people can have on issues such as climate change, or protesting in support of a free Palestine. Israel’s genocide in Palestine has been going on now for eight months, and in that time, protests, marches, phone zaps, boycotts, and encampments on university campuses have been led by young people and groups like the Palestinian Youth Movement. Aaron Bushnell, the U.S. serviceman who self-immolated in front of the embassy of Israel in Washington D.C. back in February, was only 25 years old. The degree to which young people have had to step up to fill the vacuum left by world leaders who lack the spine and courage to demand an end to the violence themselves should be a mark of shame those politicians carry with them for the rest of their lives.
We hope this issue underscores the profound impact that early musical experiences and youth culture have on personal and artistic development, as well as the broader societal contributions of young people. The enduring energy and passion of young people extend beyond music into critical social and political movements, highlighting their vital role in driving change. As we look to the future, it's imperative to support and amplify the voices of the next generation, recognizing their potential to lead and inspire in every domain of life.
— Michael Rancic
Editorial: Daniel G Wilson, Tabassum Siddiqui (public editor), Michael Rancic (features editor), Leslie Ken Chu, Sarah Chodos, Tom Beedham
Community: Daniel G Wilson, Michael Rancic, Rosie Long Decter (lead)
Care: Tabassum Siddiqui (Public Editor), Sarah Chodos (lead), Tom Beedham
Organization: Michael Rancic, Leslie Ken Chu, Tom Beedham
Budget: Michael Rancic, Leslie Ken Chu
Web: Laura Stanley (lead), Michael Rancic, Leslie Ken Chu
